Unbeaten in his last three runs, Dahham will start as the overwhelming favourite in the Qatar Total Arabian Trophy for Colts tomorrow at the Saint Cloud course here, the first of the two Group I PA races that will kick off the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend.
HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed al-Nayhan’s colt has been in good form recently. He won the Al Rayyan Cup (Gr 1 PA) easily this summer at Deauville when he defeated Ahzar, who he will meet again tomorrow.
Damien de Watrigant’s pupil will surely be gunning for revenge, but with the kind of form Dahham is in at the moment, that seems a tall ask.
Thomas Fourcy will have not less than four Al Shaqab Racing-owned horses in the race. Lwsail and Motrag finished a creditable second and third respectively in the Prix Chéri Bibi (Gr 3 PA) at Toulouse recently and seem to have the best chances.
Julian Smart will have two representatives in the race — HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Ebraz and Shabih Alreeh. Ebraz looked in his best behaviour in his start in the Group I Al Rayyan Cup and could well be the surprise packet of the afternoon.
In the other race of the day, the Qatar Arabian Trophy for Fillies, Dhabab and Djaikiri Safinat would be the two to look forward to. They both wear the Royal Cavalry of Oman silks and are expected to give each other a tough time. Djaikiri Safinat already has a win under her saddle at this level and therefore holds that slight edge. The opposition will be led by Abudhabi Princess, the winner at Mont-de-Marsan recently ahead of Muneera.
Smart will pin his hopes on Lawa’Has, who started in a Group II race at Newbury recently but had nothing much to show off, while Alban de Mieulle will have Samaa who should be able to make some progress after her good start at La Teste.